Rumor has it…
…That the French begging nun is in town! This is the beginning of a sweet note written to Saint Jeanne Jugan from some faithful donors. They sent us a donation and a note using the setting and words of the people of Colorado in the early 1900s. The creative narrative took us back in time to where our begging tradition began, plus provided a joyous walk through the years of our Denver history. Saint Jeanne Jugan relied on begging to receive the items needed to serve the elderly in her care. The photo below shows our first begging vehicle! Driver, Joe Wolff, aided in the Little Sisters begging tradition here in Denver before the horse and buggy was replaced by a motor truck in 1935.
In honor of our beloved foundress and in preparation for her feast, the Little Sisters wanted to provide an interactive way for all to celebrate Saint Jeanne Jugan. The Holy Spirit led us to this active imagination scenario of what would happen if Saint Jeanne Jugan came knocking at our benefactors’ doors. Hence our theme for the August 30, 2020 Feast Day was this all-important question: “If Saint Jeanne Jugan knocked on your door today, what would you give her?” Throughout the month of August, so many of you answered Saint Jeanne Jugan’s call to support our elderly poor. Thank you to all who visited our “begging baskets” in response; your letters, thoughtful acts of kindness, and generous donations radiated the spirit of Saint Jeanne Jugan. May the Lord bless you for your service to our Residents!
Finally, August 30, 2020 arrived for the celebration of Saint Jeanne Jugan’s Feast Day. On this magnificent Sunday morning, we presented to Saint Jeanne Jugan the prayers and meditations on the rosaries that hung on each floor of our Home. These descriptive rosaries encouraged people to do the Spiritual Works of Mercy, Corporal Acts of Mercy, to take to heart special sayings of Saint Jeanne Jugan, to recite her favorite prayers, and to pray with pictures of her serving the elderly. We hope that many thanksgivings were given to God through these rosaries. In preparation for her feast, we prayed a novena to Saint Jeanne Jugan, and on the vigil of her feast, we prayed a Transitus commemoration to celebrate the memory of her life. Praise be to God for such a faithful foundress who continues to provide us with our needs for our mission through the witness of her humility, faithfulness, and prayers. Thank you to all who celebrated her Feast with us from afar. Saint Jeanne Jugan, pray for us!
Rumor has it…